Justice Arthur Engoron presides over the civil fraud trial of the Trump Organization at the New York State Supreme Court in New York City on November 13, 2023. (ERIN SCHAFF/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The case is currently pending on appeal. After the appeals court issues its decision, the case will be remanded back to the lower court, which Engoron presided over during the trial.
McMahon will replace him for further proceedings once the appeals court reaches its decision, sources said.
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Engoron, after a weeks-long non-jury civil fraud trial which began in October 2023, ruled last year that Trump and defendants were liable for "persistent and repeated fraud," "falsifying business records," "issuing false financial statements," "conspiracy to falsify false financial statements," "insurance fraud," and "conspiracy to commit insurance fraud."
Former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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"His refusal to answer the questions directly, or in some cases, at all, severely compromised his credibility," Engoron wrote.
Over the course of the trial late last year, Trump, Trump allies, Republicans, and legal experts repeatedly criticized Engoron — who throughout his career has exclusively donated to Democrats — over his handling of the case.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The president’s attorneys called Engoron’s ruling "draconian, unlawful, and unconstitutional."
Trump attorney D. John Sauer, who is the incoming Solicitor General, argued that James’ lawsuit stretched New York consumer protection laws and said there were "no victims" and "no complaints" about Trump’s business from lenders and insurers.
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Sauer said the cause "involves a clear-cut violation of the statute of limitations," pointing to transactions used in the non-jury civil fraud trial that dated back more than a decade.
Sauer said that if the verdict is not overturned, "people can’t do business in real estate" without fear.
Brooke Singman is a political correspondent and reporter for Fox News Digital, Fox News Channel and FOX Business.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-york-court-assigns-new-judge-trump-civil-fraud-case-stemming-from-ag-letitia-james-probe